Kerry native returns to grotto as ‘last man standing’ after 70 years

Ballylongford native Michael Keane (82) recently celebrated a significant milestone at the exact spot where he stood as an altar boy during the opening of the grotto at Ballylongford in 1954.

Michael, who lives in County Mayo, was invited by parishioners to attend a special Mass in May to mark 70-years since the grotto’s opening.

Even more significant is that Michael is the only surviving member of the famous photograph that was taken on that day.

“I’m now known as the ‘last man standing’ as all the others in the photo have sadly passed on. I’m happy to be the last man standing in a lot of places nowadays. I cherish that photograph,” he said.

Michael explained that a large crowd attended that day in 1954 in Ballylongford when Bishop of Kerry Denis Moynihan celebrated Mass with Fr O’Shea. The occasion was indicative of the times, and it was Michael’s mother who persuaded him to be an altar boy.

“The mothers were a fright in those days. If they had a son they either wanted him to be an altar boy or a priest. It was a great thing to have a priest in the family,” he said.

“We were very holy in the 1950s in Ireland. I still have my faith, but in my own peculiar way. Where I’m living now, close to Knock, it’s interesting to see that a lot of people are returning to prayer again. That day in ’54 was a huge occasion, we got a bit food after and we were happy out,” he said.

Michael left Kerry for England in 1959 where he worked and met his future wife, Maureen. He tells how his mother would send him The Kerryman every week for six years. Michael can recall when ball rooms were packed and how the priests would patrol the carparks brandishing an ash plant at courting couples.

He worked as a guard in County Leitrim for 37-years and has raised funding for people with special needs for over 40 years. Music and football are Michael’s great passions. He played intercounty with Leitrim and contested a Connaught Final against Mayo in 1967. He was the top scorer in that year’s Connaught campaign with 2-20.

“I played with the greats of that time, including Paddy Prendergast who I used to visit in Tralee until he died. I played with Mick O’Connell when training to be a guard. I also knew ‘Thorny’ and Derry O’Shea of the Mitchel’s in Tralee,” he said.

Lastly, Michael underscores what returning home for such a special occasion to mark the seventh anniversary meant to him.

“It really was lovely being invited back home to Ballylongford. It was a lovely celebration at the grotto and it’s sad that many of the old faces are no longer around. The grotto was in decline for a few years but it’s looking great again,” he said.

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